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The Heritage 441 Run to the Great Smoky Mountains

The motivation...

When we ride, we like to avoid the 'super slabs' (interstate highways) as they have been nicknamed by some. There are any number of reasons, but a few stand out. When we're riding, it's more about the journey than the destination. We enjoy the quaint little towns and love visiting the shops while there - 'antiquing' if you will. While you can't have a journey without a destination, choosing the destination comes first, as we found the hard way when we try to decide where to ride when we have some extra time on our hands. We want the journey without the destination... and we usually end up going nowhere. Our favorite 'whistle stop' is Mt. Dora, just down the road a piece from Apopka, off US441 on old 441. I guess you'd call it our home away from home.

When I focus on getting to the destination, it seems I'm always in a hurry to get there. The last thing I need to do is get in a hurry to get anywhere. It turns me into a monster... I start yelling at people, as if they can hear me, to get out of my way. I start driving 'aggressively', passing and weaving in and out of traffic in a dangerous manner, as if I own the road. I worry about how long each 'pit stop' takes... calculating how long it will take me to regain the position lost by stopping, to catch up with the people I just passed before pulling into the rest stop or exiting the highway. Don't ask me why, I don't know, I just know I need to get out of that mindset as soon as I can once I realize I'm in it.

Worse yet is getting stuck in rush hour traffic. Anyone who has ever driven on I-75 through Atlanta or I-95 through Jacksonville or I-4 through Orlando knows what I mean. There are times of the day when you don't want to be anywhere near the interstate, when it becomes a very expensive, frustrating, multi-lane parking lot. You have plenty of time to think and you begin to realize that you could have, even should have, taken the back roads. The old highways offer the lower stress levels of moving at your own pace. The added historic value over and above the reduced stress level lends purpose and gives a more memorable journey. What would you rather remember - that moron that wouldn't get out of your way for miles or the excellent barbeque at the Mom and Pop cafe you just stopped at for lunch?

Concentrating on the journey rather than the destination helps tremendously. By not obsessing about the destination and not getting into that mindset to begin with really makes the journey enjoyable for me and much more enjoyable for my family. Much less yelling anyway... Since we're in no hurry, we can take the time to take in the beauty, the surroundings, the history, the shops, whatever presents itself. We'll get there when we get there. But if you really stop to think about it, how much time would we have saved by crawling along, bumper to bumper, on that 'super slab' anyway? An hour? Maybe two? Woohoo! Good for us! I remember when it mattered to me. Now the thrill comes from seeing if I can roll up behind someone at the traffic light, just after it has changed to green, keeping my feet on the pegs and not having to slow down, let alone stop and put my feet down.

Tips and Tricks and Things to Remember

  1. Make sure you know where you going. Go over your route with a good map and make sure you keep it with you.
  2. Be sure that someone has a copy of your route and approximate arrival times. *Hence, these pages...
  3. Have designated check-in times. *We called the kids at least once a day, usually once settled in at our destination.
  4. A cell phone is a must. It is the most significant tool you can have. *Ann's even has GPS.
  5. Keep some basic tools with you, even if you're not mechanically inclined. I carried multiple screwdrivers, assorted size combo and hex wrenches, a socket set, a flashlight, fresh batteries. *Turns out not even all those tools could help fix my head gasket when it blew in Ocala!
  6. Small first aid kit. *Forgot this one. DOH!
  7. Bottle of water, fruit bars or trail mix. *Ann doesn't let me carry a bottle of water!
  8. Extra change of clothes, sweater, t-shirt, socks and rain gear. *Had 5-6 days worth in waterproof bags in our leather packs and barrel bags.
  9. Carry a 'fake' wallet that looks 'real'. Make a color copy of your license, add some expired credit cards and a small amount of cash. Hide your real wallet and money.
  10. Review your maps and the upcoming route at each stop. *Ask me how I know this one...
Some other tips that have been passed along in the forums:
  • Carry a calling card with you. *This was handy where the cell phones didn't work - Mountains = Bad Reception
  • Carry some quarters for a pay phone. *Didn't really need these for the phone, more for correct change.
  • Always advise someone of your trip plans and arrange a regular check-in schedule.

Lay out all your clothes and all your money. Then take half the clothes and twice the money. (Susan Heller)

Mustgo, n.:
Any item of food that has been sitting in the refrigerator so
long it has become a science project.
-- Sniglets, "Rich Hall & Friends"

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Last Updated: 15 Aug 2018